Molded track for vehicle toys



Aug. 4, 1953 R. N. CARVER 2,647,693 MOLDED TRACK FOR VEHICLE Toys Filed April 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l A118 4 1953 R. N. CARVER 2,647,693

MOLDED TRACK FOR VEHICLE TOYS Filed April 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 2,647,693- ML'DED- TRACK Fonl VEHrcLE 'lloY's Richard N.A Carver,I Erie, Past lassignornto Louis. Marx Yrv Company, Inc., New York, N. Y. acorporation of New York ALDDI'CJOn April 1'4, 1949, Serial N0. 87,388 8 Claims. (Cl. 23S- 101) This invention relates to vehicletoysand' more particularly to vehicle track sections adaptedl t0 bermolded out of known plastics.

Toys have already been made in which a vehicle having unlanged Wheels runs between they guide rails of a road or track. In the present case the'vehicle simulates a train' which ordinarily has anged wheels, but for simplicity and economy the wheels' are un'anged and ru-n between,. rather thanl on the guide rails.. Nevertheless, in orderto heighten the. realism of the toy the road bed preferably simulates a regular railroad bed. rather than a highway. One general object of the present invention isl to generally improve theioad bed or track sections for such a toy. All parts of the track section, both functional and ornamental-,- are provided in the course of a singley molding operation.

A more spec'ic object of the invention is to minimize. friction` on the wheels without sacriiicing satety against derailment.. With this object, lin view I provide lovv iillets or slightly raised steps at. the base inside thel rails, the said fillets being so low as to' cause no appreciable friction on the wheels,y but serving normally to center the wheels-between, and. to space the same from, the: rails. The rails themselves are ofv substantial height.Y and: effectively prevent escape of the vehicle from theA track in the event that the wheels move over the iillet, as, for example, in rounding a curvey at high speed.

A further object of the invention is to improve the appearance of the track in order to more realistically simulate a railroad track. For this purpose the base portion is molded with smooth.A areas to simulate ties, and with slightly embossed or roughened areas between the ties:

to simulate the ballast of the road bed. The embossingv between the rails is substantially flat, and is in the same plane as the7 tops orf the ties, in order to permit free operation; of. thewheels on the base. However, the portions: of' the base outside the rails are modified, the ern--` bcssed road bed portions being depressed substantially below the top surface of the simulated: ties, muchas isl the case in a i-"eal` railroadif Although the simulated ties are only their ends outside the railsftliei'e is neVery theless an optical illusion which, on supercial inspection, creates the impression of ties projecting above road bed ballast of gravel; cinders, or. the-like. Of course, the wheels. could notA run between thev rails. on such a. surface, but with the present constructionl some` of the realistici ap'- pearance oi" projecting ties` is obtained', While' in boldyrelief` ati.

\ ofV the arrows 2, at the same time retaining between the railsa fiat surfaceV `on which the wheels can run smoothly..

Other oba'ects of the invention center about the mode of detachably connecting the sections in end-to-end relation. In accordance with the present invention eachv section is provided with two spaced tongues which proect at oneend,- and a. sing-le tongue projecting at the other end. of the tongues has a lug. The base por-- tion` of the track is at] the end with single lug holel at the end with the two.y spaced tongues.y 'I'he tonguea, lugs, and holes` are so' related that the twosections may be locked together with their ends abutting tightly, the single tongue bei-ng disposed betweena the spaced tonguest andthe lugs` being received in the lug` holes. u Y

To accomplishthe foregoing, general objects,` and other more specific objects. which will hereinafter appear my inventionv resides in` the molded track sections, and their relation one to another as.- are. hereinafter more particularly described in the following speciiicationt The spec-` incation.` is accompanied vbyjdrawingsl in` which:

Fig. 1 is aplar-r view ofastraight track section embodying features of. invention;

Fig... 2 is, an. end elevation of the saine` lookingv in the direction of the: arrows 2 2, and drawn to larger scale;

Fig.l 3 is an'. enst elevation ofthesame looking inthe directionof the: arrows 3 3`; 4is akv fragmentary longitudinal section` taken inthe plane. of the: line. 4 of Fig. 1 ;v

F'ig.5V is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken'. the plane; of" the line 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is. a iragmentaryplanview showing` the adjacent ends.. of two track.- sections secured in abutting. relation.;

Fig- 7 is alsection taken in the plane of the line 1-'1 of Fig. 6,. and dawn to larger scale;

Fig. 8 isa plan; view applied tov curvedA track. sections.;

Fig- 9 is an end'. view drawni to' larger scale, look-ing inthe directionof thev arrows; 9-#91 and showing the banking'-` of thecurvedA sections;

Eig. 10-isi ay plan view-of a c lossover' ern-bodying features: or my invention;

Figi. 111 isi an end Viewv looking inthe direction Ht! ofi Fig;` 10;' and Fig. 1a, is a pian: view or assure-s track which mayn be? built up" out. ofthe straight, curved, and

provided withtwo lug holesI a single tongue. and withl a;

showing thel invention,

iarly to Figs. 1 through 7, the track section there shown comprises a base portion I2 on which the vehicle wheels run, as is indicated by the wheels I4 in Fig. 3. There are spaced rails I6 which project upward from the base portion I2, and between which the wheels I4 run. In addition there are low fillets or stepped portions I8 formed in the corners between the base I2 and the rails I6. These fillets are so low that they cause no rappreciable friction on the wheels I4. Nevertheless they serve to normally center the wheels between the rails I6. The friction is minimized because the wheels do not run against the relatively high rails IG. However, in the event that the vehicle tends to leave the track and climbs the low llet I8, it is held safely on the track by the adjacent rail I6.

rihe fillet may, if desired, be a diagonal fillet, but I prefer the stepped fillet shown. It should be understood, however, that the step is a very low step, although somewhat exaggerated in the drawing for clarity. In one particular construction in which the rails are spaced apart with 1" clearance therebetween, and in which the height of the rail is the height of the fillet is only 0.02".

To increase the realism of the toy the base portion I2 is provided with smooth areas 2U which simulate wooden ties, and with embossed or roughened areas 22 between the ties to simulate a gravel or cinder road bed. The embossing of the areas 22 is substantially at, and the plane of the areas 22 coincides with the plane of the tops of the simulated ties, thereby permitting fr-ee operation oi the vehicle wheels on the base i surface I2 despite the embossing. However, outside the rails I6 the embossed or roughened portions 24 are depressed substantially below the tops 2B of the ties. This difference is clearly shown at 24 in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. The effect is gratifying, for although the ties really are in bold relief at only the ends outside the rails, the overall appearance of the road bed is improved almost as though the ties were similarly in relief between the rails. l

The sections are rigidly joined end-to-end in tightly abutting relation in a manner best shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Reverting to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the track section has two spaced tongues 26 and 28 projecting at one end, and a single tongue 3,9 projecting at the other end. Each tongue terminates in a lug 32. The base portion I2 of the track section has two lug holes 34 and 36 at the end with the single tongue 30, and has a single-lug hole 38 at the end with the spaced tongues 26 and 28. Now the tongues, lugs and holes are so dimensioned and located that two sections may be locked together as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with the lugs of tongues 26 and 28 received in lug holes 34 and 36 of 'an adjacent section, and with the lug of tongue of the adjacent section received in lug hole 38. It will be understood that the primed numerals are employed for parts of another whole track section I2', which has been added to the track section I2.

In the drawing it will be seen that the tongues 26, 28 and 30 are all preferably located at a level beneath the base portion of the track section, and that the single tongue is dimensioned to be received between the spaced tongues of the next section when the sections are joined together. The distance between the inner face 40 of lug 32 and the end of the track section is made Very slightly less than the spacing of the lug hole from the end of the track section, so that the parts are fitted together with a tight t, that is, the main ends of the two adjacent sections are held in tightly abutting relation. The lug holes preferably expand downwardly at one side, as is indicated at 42 in Fig. 7. This facilitates lassembly and disassembly of the track sections, for they may be rocked or pivoted during assembly or disassembly.

The track section preferably includes side walls 44. These may slope, as is best shown in'Figs. 2 and 3, thereby simulating the banking of the ballast of a typical road bed outside the ends of the ties. rThe side walls 44 serve to stiffen the track section against bending or warping, and also elevate the base portion I2 somewhat above the floor or table surface on which the track is placed. From another viewpoint it may be said that the track section is given adequate height to realistically simulate a road bed without, however, requiring an excessive amount of molding material, for the section is hollowed on bottom. Moreover, the elevation of the base portion makes it possible to locate the connecting tongues 26, 28 and 30 beneath the base portion, as was previously described.

The track section may be made inexpensively because it is molded in a single molding operation of conventional character, preferably by injection molding. Thus the base portion I2, the rails I6, the side walls 44, the llets I8, the simulated ties 20, the simulated road bed 22, 24, the tongues 26, 28 and 32, and the lugs 32 are all an integral molded body of plastic. The plastic may be polystrene, as one example.

The track preferably includes curved sections as well as straight sections, and a curved section is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In this particular case the sections are 36 of arc, that is, it would take ten sections to complete a circle. The curved section resembles the straight section in having a main base portion 52 on which the wheels run, and rails 54 of substantial height between which the wheels run. Moreover, llets 56 are provided which guide the wheels with minimum friction. As before, the base 4portion 52 has smooth areas which simulate ties, and has embossed areas therebetween which simulate the ballast of the road bed. Between the rails the embossed areas are comparatively smooth, and lie in the same plane as the tops of the ties. Outside the rails the embossed areas are substantially depressed, so that the ties stand out in relief, all as was previously described. Moreover, the arrangement of tongues, lugs and lug holes at the ends of the sections is the same as previously described. This, of course, has the important Iadvantagethat straight sections may be connected to curved sections, and vice versa.

However, the curved section differs from the straight section in one important respect. The side wall 6I) (Fig. 9) on the outside of the curved section is substantially higher than the side wall 62 on the inside. Thus the curved section is banked, which adds to the realism of the track and which aids in holding the vehicle in centered position between the rails. If, however, the toy operates at excessive speed and climbs the fillet. it is held safely on the track by the main rail 54.

The curved track section has a projection '64 at the end with the single tongue 66. When the curved sections are assembled the projection 54 of one section comes beneath the end of the adjacent section, as will be seen at the left portion of Fig. 8, in which two curved sections are being brought together. The projection 64 is of some aocvgeoaf:

one end to a banked condition: at the other end.`

The projection. et. engages. and helps support the elevated corner of that` straight section which provides. the transition from unbanked to'I banked track. I l

As so tar described: the track sections: may be used to torniV an ellipseor a circle. vIt is. also/'possible to form a ligure 8', as shown in Fig. 12' of the: drawing, by providing a crossover in. addition to: the straight and curved. sections. Such ag crossover is shown in Figs. 1.0 and l1. It is. preiera'bly molded' out of a single piece oi molding material, and much of the description previousllyi givenis applicable. to the crossover, for it com.- prises abase portion. 'l2 withl spaced rails M and T6. As. before, the inside corners of the rails are preferably provided with. fillets ld.. The base portion. preferably hasr smooth areas simulating ties, and embossed. areas simulating the ballast between the ties. Between the rails ill the embossed and smo-othl areas arein a common plane, and the embossing is. comparatively flat in order to in noI way impede tree. movement of the wheels., Outside the relis the embossedl areas. are preferably depressed so that the simulated ties stand out in bold relief.

Two oit the: four of the crossover are each provided. with a sing-le tongue with an upwardly directed lug, while the other two arms are each providedr with two spaced tongues with upwardly directed lugs, all as previously described. Similarly, the ends having a single tong-ue'ha've two lug holes, and the ends having two tongues have a single lug hole, so that the regular track. sectionsr may be connected to. the. crossover, as indicated in Fig. 12. li/lore'over, the sidev edges ofv the" crossover are provided' with side walls, best'shown at 8B in Figli, the'said walls corresponding to the side wall'sfld` of the straight track sections'.

The crossover' diners from the. regular' track sections'in having a raised' p'arallelogram' 82 at the center to help guide the vehicle safely across the intersection. Additional ridges may be provided at S4 for the same purpose. The ridges 8d may, it desired, form a side of a triangle, the other two sides 86 of which converge to an apex inthe crossover arm. Thus the wheels are guided by the sloping ridges 8B, and at the intersection are guided by the parallel ridges 82 and 8d, all in addition to the main rails Hl and 'I6 previously mentioned.

It is believed that the construction and method of assembly and use of my improved track sections, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the track sections of my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A molded plastic track section for a vehicle toy, said track section comprising a base pornon aridapairorspaoedraiisiprojectiog opward-Y therefrom, the base porti-on being. molded with smooth areas'v between: and extending outside said to simulate. :tiles and with embossed areas between and extending outside-,said rails to. simul'aite road bed' ballast; between the ties the emboss'ing` between the rails'.- being substantially daty and? in the plane or' the ties, the embossed road bed portions: outside the. rails being depressed substantially below thev top surface: of .the simulated. tlesf. y

A molded plastic track section for a vehicle toy, 'saidi 'oracle section. comprising a flat continuous base portion on4 which the Vehicle wheels run: and) a` pair or' spaced; rails. projecting. up-

wardly therefrom between which the vehicle vvlfieelsA run; the base portion being molded4 with. smooth; areas between` and' extending outside said rails to simulate ties. and. with: embossed' areas. between and'. extending outside said` rails. toisimulate' road bed ballast between the ties, the embossing between the rails. being substantially' fiat` and; in the plane of the ties in order' to perinitifree operation ofthe vehicle wheels on the, base surface. between the rails, the embossed. road bed portions outside. the rails being depressed substantia'l'lyv below the top surface of the simulated ties".` l

molded' plastic track section for a. vehicle toy, said'. trackv section comprising a` flat continnous base portion. on. which the. vehiclev wheels run and a pair of spacedv rails projecting upwardly Atherefrom between' which the vehicle wheels the base portionl being molded' with smooth areas between andv extending outside said railsA to. simulate tiesl andl with. embossed arcas between.

aridi extending outside said rails to'. simulate road bed ballast between. the ties, the:- embossing between the rails being substantially iflat and in. the plane of the ties ini order to permit free opera.- tion off the vehicle wheels. on the base surface: between: the rails,l the embossed road bed por- 'tions outside the rails. being depressed substantial'lyA below the top surface of the simulated ties, said: traclb. sectionI including' side walls. which stiften and elevate. the base portion somewhat,` and said base,l rails', simulatedzties and ballast, and side-r walls; alli being an. integrall molded piece.

4;. Molded4 plastic toy track sections arranged to be connected e'nd. to. end, each section having a base'l portion, tworspaced tongues-proj ecting at one end, andf a single tongue projectingI at the other end, all of said` tongues being. at a level beneath.

said base portion. each` of said: tongues havingv a'.

lug at its end the upper surface of which is no higher than the upper surface of said base portion, the base portion of said track section having two lug holes at the end with a single tongue, and a single lug hole at the end with the two spaced tongues, the tongues, lugs, and holes being so related that two sections may be locked together with their ends abutting tightly, with the single tongue disposed between the spaced tongues, and with the lugs received in the lug holes, said parts al1 being an integral molded piece.

5. Molded plastic toy track sections arranged to be connected end to end, each section having a base portion, spaced rails projecting upwardly therefrom, side walls which stiften and elevate the base portion somewhat, two spaced tongues projecting at one end at a level beneath the base portion, and a single tongue similarly projecting at the other end beneath the base portion, each of said tongues having an upwardly directed lug iat its end the upper surface of which is no higher than the upper surface of said base portion, the base portion of said track section having two lug holes at the end with a single tongue, and a single lug hole at the end with the two spaced tongues, the tongues, lugs and holes being so related that two sections may be locked together with their ends abutting tightly, with the single tongue disposed between the spaced tongues, and with the lugs received in the lug holes.

6. Molded plastic toy track sections arranged to be connected end to end, each section having a base portion, spaced rails projecting upwardly therefrom, side walls which stiffen and elevate the base portion somewhat, two spaced tongues projecting at one end at a level beneath the base portion, and a single tongue similarly projecting at the other end beneath the base portion, each of said tongues having an upwardly directed lug at its end the upper surface of which is no higher than the upper surface of said base portion, the base portion of said track section having two lug holes at the end with a single tongue, and a single lug hole at the end with the two spaced tongues, the tongues, lugs, and holes being so related that the two sections may be locked together with their ends abutting tightly, with the single tongue disposed between the spaced tongues, and with the lugs received in the lug holes. said base, rails, side walls, tongues and lugs of one section all being an integral molded piece.

'7. A molded plastic track section for a vehicle toy, said section comprising a base portion on which the vehicle wheels run, spaced rails projecting upwardly therefrom between which the vehicle wheels run, side walls which stiffen and elevate the base portion somewhat, the base portion being molded with smooth areas between and extending outside said rails to simulate ties and with embossed areas between and extending outside said rails to simulate road bed ballast between the ties, the embossing between the rails being substantailly flat and in the plane of the ties in order to permit free operation of the vehicle wheels on the base surface between the rails, the portion of the base outside the rails having the embossed road bed portions depressed substantially below the top surface of the simulated ties, each section having a tongue projecting at one end at a level beneath the base portion, said tongue having an upwardly directed lug at its end the upper surface of which is no higher than the upper surface of said base portion, the base portion having a lug hole at the other end, the tongue, lug and hole being so o Number molded that two sections may be locked together with their ends abutting tightly, with the lug received in the lug hole, said base, rails, side walls, ties, road bed, tongues and lugs of one section all being an integrally molded piece.

8. A molded plastic track section for a vehicle toy, said section comprising a flat continuous base portion on which the vehicle wheels run, spaced rails projecting upwardly therefrom between which the vehicle wheels run, side walls which stiften and elevate the base portion somewhat, the base portion being molded with smooth areas between and extending outside said rails to simulate ties and with embossed areas between and extending outside said rails to simulate road bed ballast between the ties, the embossing between the rails being substantially flat and in the plane of the ties in order to permit free operation of the vehicle wheels on the base surface between the rails, the portion of the base outside the rails having the embossed road bed portions depressed substantially below the top surface of the simulated ties, each section having two spaced tongues projecting at one end at a level beneath the base portion and a single tongue similarly projecting beneath the base portion at the other end; each of said tongues having an upwardly directed lug at its end the upper surface of which is no higher than the upper surface of said base portion, the base portion having two lug holes at the end with a single tongue and a single lug hole at the end with the two spaced tongues, the tongues, lugs and holes being so molded that two sections may be locked together with their ends abutting tightly, with the single tongue disposed between the spaced tongues, and with the lugs received in the lug holes, said base, rails, side walls, ties, road bed, tongues and lugs of one section all being an integrally molded piece.

RICHARD N. CARVER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lynch May 23,1911 Hansen Oct. 22, 1912 Fergusson et al Feb. 5, 1924 Cutler Oct. 26, 1926 Westcott Aug. 19, 1930 Horn Apr. 26, 1938 Frisbie Dec. 9, 1941 

